China's largest offshore photovoltaic demonstration project integrating solar, hydrogen, and energy storage, the Guohua Investment Nantong Rudong Solar-Hydrogen-Storage Integrated Project, was completed on June 10.

China's largest solar-hydrogen-storage integrated project. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This project is also the first in the country to integrate photovoltaic power generation, hydrogen production, and electrochemical energy storage.

Located on the tidal flats of northeastern Rudong, a county in Nantong, the project has a total installed capacity of 400 megawatts and covers an area of 4,300 mu (286.67 hectares).

Once operational, it is expected to generate an annual average grid-connected electricity of 468 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to reducing annual emissions of carbon dioxide by 309,400 metric tons, sulfur dioxide by 562.6 tons, and nitrogen dioxide by 1,125.3 tons.

Moreover, the project makes use of the locally available coastal tidal flat resources by adopting advanced photovoltaic technology and intelligent control systems to achieve efficient energy conversion and storage. It will improve the peak-shaving capability and power supply stability of the regional grid, facilitating the optimization and upgrading of the energy structure in Rudong and nearby areas.

"Currently, the photovoltaic section is operational, and the storage and hydrogen production facilities are almost complete," said Jiang Bin, the project manager from Guohua Investment Jiangsu Branch.

The project is planned to be up and running by August or September. Once fully operational, it is expected to be the first solar-hydrogen-storage integrated project to be implemented in China, he added.